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Post by Desdemona Coven on Jul 25, 2007 13:29:30 GMT -5
After leaving behind the only home she's ever known, (ok more like banished, but who's counting) sixteen year old Desdemona Coven and her horse, Tári, make ther way to the northern boarder of Iodar. Here the desert gives way to bits of grass and a small wooded area that could be no less then a dot on her trustee map.
Unknowingly, Desdemona settles in the same small patch of trees that hid her parents the day she was born, what was literally a lifetime ago! She cautiously dismounts, leaving one of Tári's reins over his neck and the other firmly in her left hand.
She believes it to be safe after scouting the surrounding area for nearly an hour, listening tenitively for any signs of life, other then the wilderness and its natural four legged inhabitants. Desdemona then pulls Tári closer and hastelly removes his saddle and blanket from the horses' back, placing them easily on the lush grass beside a huge oak tree.
She then carefully rubs Tári down where the saddle was resting, looking for any sores or any blemishes. Then she begins to check his legs for any tenderness or swelling in case he harmed himself during the long and treterous ride. She then gingerly pats his neck telling him 'It's just you and me now boy!' Tári snorts as he continues to munch on the lush grass surrounding them as if to tell her that he likes it better this way.
Desdemona ties the one rein around a small tree, securing it tightly, and begins to collect some long grass to cover the ground at the base of the tree. She uses her dagger to free the blades of grass fromits' root, making sure she is being as sparatic as she possibly can, so she doesn't give away her position if someone travels by.
As darkness comes rolling in, and silence falls, Desdemona carefully thinks about what she is going to do, and where she is possibly headed. 'It'll have to wait for tomorow,' she tells herself, 'for tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life!'
Desdemona takes off her most prized position, the ornate long sword, and places it next to the mound of grass, where she will be resting for the night. She then unties her coin purse from her belt and tucks it underneith her as she settles into the soft bed of grass, her back resting on the trunk and places her dagger in her lap. She then reaches next to her and grabs the saddle blanket, sighs and allows her eyes to begin to slowly close, knowing full well that Tári will alert her if he feels they are in any danger.
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Jul 28, 2007 12:22:10 GMT -5
Iodar was dangerous for an outsider, but Darkstar, if nothing else, was good at disguising herself and there were certain supplies that she could only get in the desert wastes. She disguised herself well, with a makeup consisting mostly of soot and ash to darken her skin, clay to form points on her ears, her eyes taking on a pale violet shade thanks to heavily ingesting certain fruit compounds. Her lips were darkly rouged to an almost marooon shade and her hair--long and straight down her back in a loose plait--a shade on the dark side for a nymandine but not unusual. She wore the front over her ears to conceal a noteable lack of ear-jewlery that was favored among the race and donned simple breeches and boots with a cotton tunic in a shade of deep blue. She didn't plan to interact with anyone, but she didn't think it wise to wander into Iodar as anything but one of it's own either.
Now, on the outskirts, she felt greatful for a slight breeze and the shade of trees. Her mount, Tavia, met her at the edge of the wood and she pat the horse's mane and offered her a piece of fruit from the horse's saddlebags. "We'll rest for now," she said. "And in the morning head North out of these gods-forsaken wastes. I have what I came for." It was time to slip by unnoticed as a theif in the night. Rumors of work in Ardenbau had her ear now. She'd head that way and see if she could make some quick ka.
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Jul 28, 2007 22:00:25 GMT -5
Tári munched happily on the grass as Desdeoma began her slumber. There was a scent on the breeze and Tári had smelled it. The scent of another horse, the scent of danger. Tári began to focus in on the sound of the woman talking. But Tári wasn't the only one who hear the woman and her horse. Desdemona's eyes shot open, her heart pounded in excitment...
"Try to sneek up on me huh..."she sneered quietly to Tári, "We'll have to see just WHO we are up against won't we boy?" Desdemona slipped her dagger into its sheath, snatched up her purse, tying it to her belt. She rose to her feet with little noise, grabbed her sword, sheething it in one motion.
Desdemona tried jerking the rein loose with one hand, but that wan't quite as easy as she thought it would be, she was over protective when it came to Tári, he always was there for her. Finally undoing the knot, Desdemona lead her horse as quiet as possable (altho Tári is a freaken HUGE horse!!) Des lead the way to the north through the now greener and true boarder of Between Iodar and Ardenbau. Then they doubled-back to get to a good vantage point of the voice and the horse.
Not really trying to hide, 'cause one can't effectivly HIDE in the deserted terrain of Iodar. Desdemona sat on a large rock, quietly watching and listening to this blur of a creature, who was now resting at the edge of HER hide-a-way. She couldn't really SEE the woman but she surely HEARD the long deep breath of a thing relaxing. Even the sound of her horse munching on the sweet plain grasses were echoing in rythem in her head.
"What do you think Tári?" Des asked, Tári snorted softly and lowered his head beginning to search for grass to eat, finding none and sighed disheartingly. Tári swished his tail shooing a fly off of his hind quaters. Des pulled her knees up and rapped her arms around them. "Maybe we sould watch them through the night..."
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Jul 29, 2007 11:53:37 GMT -5
She may not truly be a nymandine--though she surely looked like one about now, but an assassin always has a certain sense for danger. Darkstar lifted her head, the breeze ruffling the forelocks of her hair a bit, as she listened for something. She wasn't sure what, but she felt an ill ease, a certain sense of wrongness in the air. Still, she didn't want to be noticed noticing, and the dagger in her boot felt warm against her skin--the only weapon she had ready access to at this time--if she pulled another what cover she had could well be blown. She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out an apple, subtly sneaking a small vial of loquari (a tasteless poison with a subtly sweet, fruity scent) out with it, hiding it in her palm behind the piece of fruit. She slid down to lean against a nearby tree in a rest position, or one that well faked one, with her knees bent upwards in what looked to be comfort and was--but also meant she would be able to get up quickly if need be.
The dagger was yanked from the assassin's boot, ready, but not showing it, making to use it to slowly peel the fruit in her hand.
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Jul 29, 2007 15:33:24 GMT -5
The late afternoon sun was setting off behind the great dune that was Iodar and still no visable movement. She did how-ever hear the creature rustling through its saddlebag and the distinct sound of a balde of some sort sliding frome its sheath. 'Nothing to fear, but fear itself!' she says in her head, 'And anyways, I am the one in control this situation, I can hear the thing coming before it has time to get any closer."
So confident as ever Desdemona remains at her post, listening intently on the uninvited guest. When the glowing orb leaves the heavens Desdemona, tho feeling a bit tired, looks around keeping herself awake. "Look Tári," desdemona says in a whisper, "there is no moon tonight..." Desdemona knows she is like no other Nymandine. There is no lore to this night, in all her years there never was. The others in her clan would be out drinking and socializing, "here's to the Gods!" she'd hear them say amist the hootin' and holarin'.
This night of all nights Des felt alone, and the chill of the night was going to force her to retreat back to her hide-away as unsafe as it was for her. Des isn't really BOTHERED by the cold, it is just the nymandine instinct which forces her to seek cover from it.
Des finally allows herself to be overcome with sleep, allowing here eyes to rest, but she has to catch herself from falling from the rock a few times. Waking for a moment Des makes sure Tári's rein was still securely in her hand and that the horse hadn't wondered off somewhere. Still listening, but resting her weary body.
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Aug 1, 2007 17:27:30 GMT -5
The woman splits her apple with a horse she calls Tarsis. Though it appears to be only the two of them, Darkstar can't help a sense of ill ease and decides to be cautious. She plants the dagger in the soil between her thigs and leans her head back to catch a bit of slumber though it is a light, uneasy slumber. Every sound makes her ear perk up, though her hearing is the fallible hearing of a human and there are many sounds she misses. She rests an hour, awakens, adjusts her position, rests again.
In the pre-dawn light she rises, puts the blade back in her boot. This disguise has outlived its usefulness and will only hinder her as she travels farther north, she's certain of that. Remembering an oasis not far off to the west, she decides she'll take that detour and mounts Tavia, again calling the horse Tarsis. She has the distinct feeling that they aren't quite alone.
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Aug 2, 2007 19:49:48 GMT -5
After watching, rather listening, to the woman for nearly four hours, Desdemona uses the cover of night to gain a little ground. She changes sides of the woman hid more to the east and alot closer then maybe she should have. The desert giving way to some sprays of bushes and tall grasses.
Hoping upon hope that this wasn't a foolish mistake. But then she felt fairly secure fighting with her long sword abilities. She let her horse roam free, after all her was only a cluck or two away if she needed to get out of there in a hurry.
Des debated on weither to go over there and confront the woman face to face. After thinking about it for awhile Des decided that IF she did, it was too far dangerous to do it during the night, maybe in the early morning would be safer. So she waited, watched, and listened for the remainder of the night.
At allittle day-break Desdemona called Tári and they went back to the trees, retrieved her belongings, and headed to her veiw-point and proceeded to slowly and causiously approach the woman, her hand on the hilt of her long sword...
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Aug 5, 2007 14:21:37 GMT -5
Darkstar still felt ill at ease. She needed to change her costume to head northward, but didn't trust it. She felt like she was being watched. And apparently she was right if the Nymandine fast approaching was any sign. The vial of poison she'd hidden in the wrist of her sleeve the previous night itched at her wrist as if wondering if it would be made use of, the blade in her boot felt warm against the flesh of her calf and she waited for what seemed an inevitable confrontation. She steeled herself, still not willing to let on that she wasn't quite what she pretended to be. "That's far enough," she told the woman. "What business do you have with me?"
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Aug 7, 2007 18:53:35 GMT -5
A smirk curled around Desdemona's face as ahe aproached. Pulling back on Tári's reins, the horse sluggishly stops and tries to grab a bit to eat. Desdemona pulls the reins a bit to tell her mount to stay alert, this was definatly NO time to grab a quick bite to eat.
Desdemona settles back in the saddle seat and listens for a moment...."You mean... What business do 'you' have with me you wertched girl...?" the words slithering out of her mouth, "You're the one who approached my camp!"
Desdemona had her sword fully out of its sheeth before she even began to stop her horse. The glint of light ran from the hilt to the tip as she talked to Darkstar. It was in no threatning position, it lay resting across her lap.
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Aug 12, 2007 11:54:39 GMT -5
'Oh for pity's sake,' Darkstar thought. "I know neither of you or your camp," she said. "Are you always this paranoid? You and yours don't interest me in the slightest. Put your blade away. I've no interest in fighting." 'At least when there's no profit in it,' she thought. Whatever the case she was damn sure she wanted to end this conversation quickly as the woman was obviously mentally unhinged to think that some unknown party was out to get her. "I was just leaving, so if you'll stop accosting me we can go our separate ways."
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Aug 13, 2007 18:41:35 GMT -5
"Paranoid?" Desdemona sneered, "You think this is paranoya?" Desdemona slid down off Tári, landing soundly on her feet. She took the reins in her hand and proceeded to take a few steps toward Darkstar, Stopped and slid her sword into the ground beside her.
"You have No freakin' Idea what I have been through today..." Desdemona growled, "But that is none of your business anyway." Desdemona was furious by this point, on the verge of a break-down. Her hands were shaking with anger and the grip on the horses reins were so tight that not even the Gods themself could knock them from her hands. She closed her eyes and took a moment to calm herself, forcing the wrage back into the pit from which it came, almost failing.
The sinister look that was on her face all but faded away when she opened her eyes. "Your not even worth the cost of a polishing rag that I'd need to wipe your blood from my sword." Des said bitter-sweetly. Desdemona drew her sword from the ground and yanked at Tári's reins. Tári threw her head in the air, she was caught off guard, she'd been reaching down munching un-noticed (or so the horse thought anyways). She tuned around and mounted the horse in a single jump, she nudged Tári and the horse puffed loudly, and then began to walk.
She looked like she was headed toward Darkstar, but she walked past her, she uttered not a single word to the woman, not a single glance was made in her direction. Her ears though were still searching out the slightest hint of an on coming of a possable attack.
"Lets get you some water before we journey to Maridian, what do you think Tári?" Desdemona whispered faintly to her horse. She pat the horse on the neck and then sat back, relaxing heavily in the saddle. She was exhausted, and they had what was going to seem like a long ride ahead of them.
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Darkstar
Novice
Queen of Masks
Posts: 12
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Post by Darkstar on Aug 21, 2007 15:50:01 GMT -5
"The day's only just begun," Darkstar retorted. "And as you say, that's got nothing to do with me." Headed to Meridian, was she? Damn. Well, it was a big city and there was little chance of them running into one another--even less of being recognized with a different face.
"Soldat," she said. "It's time for us to go." She'd find a stream or resevoir on the way to change faces and mounted the horse, taking to the road. She'd had enough of this pompous drow-chylde anyway. What an offensive way to start a day.
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Post by Desdemona Coven on Aug 25, 2007 1:11:04 GMT -5
OOC: I'm starting a new thread in Meridian
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